Mars exploration debris should not be viewed as “space trash” but rather as historical artifacts of immense archaeological value. University of Kansas anthropologist Justin Holcomb argues that the remnants of human exploration on Mars deserve preservation, as they mark a pivotal moment in human history – our first steps into interplanetary exploration.
Holcomb’s new paper, titled “Emerging Archaeological Record of Mars,” makes the case for viewing Mars exploration debris as heritage rather than litter. The team urges future missions to consider landing locations carefully to avoid disturbing these sites.
The study expands on earlier work that recognized a “lunar anthropocene” – a period marking human impact on the Moon. Holcomb argues that Mars already has an archaeological record, with the first major event dating back to 1971, when the Soviet Union’s Mars 2 rover crash-landed on the planet.
However, preserving these artifacts poses unique challenges due to Martian conditions such as cryosphere, iron-rich sands, and massive dust storms. These factors threaten the preservation of artifacts, making it difficult to locate them once buried.
To address this issue, Holcomb proposes establishing a methodology for tracking and cataloguing human material on Mars using existing systems like the U.N. Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space (UNOOSA). Each artifact, regardless of size, holds historical significance.
By recognizing the value of these artifacts, future generations can study and appreciate humanity’s interplanetary history. The study published in Nature Astronomy highlights the need to rethink our perception of “space trash” and instead view Mars exploration debris as a valuable record of human expansion onto the Red Planet.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/marss-space-debris-should-be-regarded-as-historical-artifacts